Recipient Organization
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
11868 College Backborne Road
Princess Anne,MD 21853
Performing Department
Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
Protecting natural resources by utilizing a problematic waste product (gypsum drywall) as a source of material to reduce the harmful effects of NH3 emissions from poultry production is truly innovative. Further, the amendment of the gypsum (an USDA Conservation Practice Standard) in this study from pen litter trials to soil will improve soil health, change chemical and physical qualities, increase water and air infiltration rates. Gypsum also Improves water quality by reducing the transport of dissolved phosphorous, pathogens and other contaminates in surface and subsurface waters (USDA 2015).Since gypsum recovered from dry wall is (5% +/-) drier, more soluble than other sources, and reduces GHG (EPA -WARM) standards. It is a unique product that could contribute to the development of a superior ammonia emission reducing poultry bedding amendment in concert with organic acids to form an acidified form of gypsum.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
60%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
ObjectivesDevelop an advanced cost effective activated gypsum bedding amendment that reduces ammonia emissions in poultry houses,Determine changes in soil health and other soil properties after application of spent poultry house pen activated gypsum litter on soils, andImprove the research and critical thinking skills of (2) undergraduate interns.
Project Methods
The innovative aspects of this project deals with protecting our natural resources by utilizing a problematic waste product (gypsum drywall) as a source of material to reduce the harmful effects of NH3 emissions from poultry bedding material. Further, the amendment soil with an activated gypsum poultry bedding by-product, a USDA Conservation Practice Standard known for improving soil health by changing physical qualities which increases soil water and air infiltration is also indeed commendable. Gypsum also Improves water quality by reducing the transport of dissolved phosphorous, pathogens and other contaminates in surface and subsurface waters (USDA 2015). Our approach lends to solving a scientific problem of science that is of high importance to the poultry industry in five states and the nation.Gypsum from recycled wallboard used in this study is a low cost material that contains sulfate, the same anion used to trap ammonia, and calcium, which is beneficial to crop growth and soil chemical and physical properties. Gypsum recovered from dry wall is (5% +/-) drier, and more soluble than other sources. It is a unique product that could contribute to the development of a superior ammonia emission poultry bedding reducing amendment activated by organic acids. Since gypsum is a neutral salt that is unbuffered against changes in pH. We propose the acidification of gypsum using selected organic acids that can react with ammonia to form ammonium sulfate, (adds to litter N content) the same reaction that occurs with other acidifiers. Initially, we will test the effectiveness of various organic acids, which are relatively low cost, nontoxic, and available in solid form, to activate gypsum, which will in turn be used to reduce ammonia emissions from poultry bedding materials.Plan of Operation - Objective-1 Develop an advanced cost effective activated gypsum bedding amendment that reduces ammonia emissions in poultry houses, Phase IThis study phase will consist of benchtop trials to test the effectiveness of various formulations of gypsum-based amendments (hereafter referred to as "activated gypsum"). Air containing high ammonia concentrations (> 75 ppm) will be simultaneously drawn from a common source vessel into the bottom of three sample chambers at a very slow flow rate. The process of drawing gas from the headspace for analysis of ammonia concentration may be used to control the low flow rate. Thin layers of an activated gypsum formulation, 2.) PLT at the recommended rate of 50 lbs. per 1000 ft2, of a control having no amendment will be supported on a piece of non-reactive filter paper supported by a bed of glass beads. Ammonia concentrations in the source air and in the air in the headspace above the sample will be continuously monitored. The goal is to develop a formulation of an activated gypsum amendment that is as, or more effective than Poultry Litter Treatment (PLT) in reducing ammonia concentration in the headspace of the sample chamber in bench top experiments, and subsequently in poultry pen house studies.Phase IIThis phase will depend on the successful formulation of an activated gypsum amendment material in Phase I that will reduce ammonia emissions from poultry litter bedding material in improved rates as compared to existing products on the market, such as PLT. Subsequent poultry bird pen trials will be conducted in the UMES Environmental Poultry House comprised of 12 rooms measuring 20 ft x 20 ft housing 400 birds per room. The trials will consist of three treatments: activated gypsum, PLT at the recommended rate, and a control (no treatment) with four replications. Alternatively, we may choose to test the activated gypsum at a high and a low rate, thus four treatments and three replications of each will be used. Birds will be kept until 50 days of age. We will measure bird performance, ammonia concentrations, litter parameters (pH and moisture) and foot pad scores. Additionally, we will analyze the litter before and after the trial for nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium and calcium content. The UMES Environmental Poultry House will be in use to conduct all pen studies at applicable times of the year as determined based on availability and best house environmental conditions for best results.Phase IIIA recently published study on the effectiveness of FGD gypsum as an alternative bedding material for broiler production provides strong evidence that gypsum will not have negative effects on the birds (Watts et al., 2016). Therefore, we do not anticipate a need to repeat the pen tests. However, if additional trials are done, the cost will be the same as above.Plan of Operation - Objective-2 - Determine changes in soil health and other soil properties after application of spent poultry house pen activated gypsum litter on soils.UMES Farm soil-crop field experiment using one-eight acre plots will be established as a RCB design (three to four litter treatments replicated four times as shown below). Litter will be applied to soil to provide a minimum of 2 tons N/per acre using corn to determine crop yield differences due to spent litter treatment effects. Soil will be sampled at pre- and post- crop planting-harvest stages to determine soil health and other property differences due to litter application treatments. Soils will be sampled to a depth of 0-6 and 6-12 inches for GC Mass spectrometer analyses. Data will be analyzed using SAS v.9.1 (SAS Institute, 2000). Differences among treatments will be evaluated by a general linear model, and individual treatment means grouped by Tukey's pair-wise comparison, and other statistical tolls and programs will be employed as warranted.